Open minded liberal areas? (Phoenix, Tucson: neighborhood, school, wages)

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by miamiman

There are few liberal areas in the Phoenix metro area. Tempe comes across as being liberal due to the nearby university. Downtown Phoenix comes across as being increasingly progressive and liberal, as well.

If you want an expansive liberal, progressive scene in an urban area of Arizona, I would suggest Tucson. Tucson has a very high percentage of open-minded, progressive, educated Democrats. Pima County (home of Tucson) is the only county in Arizona that rejected the constitutional ban on gay marriage. It is also one of the few counties in Arizona that went for Obama.

However, I know you are looking in the Phoenix area, so you might either be forced to relax some of your standards or look in the few areas that are being suggested.

I cannot recommend Tucson at all............it has all of Phx's drawbacks and a few more (worse highway system, lower wages for even skilled blue collar workers, and more expensive housing).

Sad because I probably would have liked Tucson 25-30 years ago.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by markas214

I guess liberal to some means anything goes. Maybe I should have used the term progressive. I just want to avoid ultra conservative, intolerant religious types.

By your definition: I would be a 'Liberal'.

[omle]

Originally Posted by movin'on

Oh, sorry. Don't come here. I live in N. Scottsdale, which is no doubt republican, but I've been here for Five Long Years. There are no Liberal places here. Maricopa County went Red. Save yourself a headache and DO NOT MOVE HERE! Seriously. I am doing you a favor by saying this. I am well educated. I have an MBA. I am a Liberal. Do NOT move here!

5 years and yet you stay. You are such a ****ing whiner. LEAVE. Seriously.

You have an MBA! Wow. Big deal. You are so impressed with your hideous self. How is that working out for you, bitter idiot? Can't even live in a place you enjoy.

[_Charles_]

SF liberals are some of the most intolerant folks on the face of the globe. Just go there and express the wrong view and see what happens. It is ridiculous. Also the day to day quality of life there SUCKS.
Phoenix is a middle class paradise by comparison. I have experienced both first hand - the trade off is worth it.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by YAZ

I still think it's funny that Sen. McCain is considered conservative.

Carry on...

I guess it depends on who is doing the labeling...I too, would never put him in the conservative corner or even near there...

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by _Charles_

SF liberals are some of the most intolerant folks on the face of the globe. Just go there and express the wrong view and see what happens. It is ridiculous. Also the day to day quality of life there SUCKS.
Phoenix is a middle class paradise by comparison. I have experienced both first hand - the trade off is worth it.

boy you have that one right!!!!

Nita

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by _Charles_

SF liberals are some of the most intolerant folks on the face of the globe. Just go there and express the wrong view and see what happens. It is ridiculous. Also the day to day quality of life there SUCKS.
Phoenix is a middle class paradise by comparison. I have experienced both first hand - the trade off is worth it.

No joke there.

Some of those SF 'liberal' hypocrites would put the Fundie Bible thumpers to shame where true intolerance is concerned.

[miamiman]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

I cannot recommend Tucson at all............it has all of Phx's drawbacks and a few more (worse highway system, lower wages for even skilled blue collar workers, and more expensive housing).

Sad because I probably would have liked Tucson 25-30 years ago.

Not true. Tucson has clean air, Phoenix does not. Tucson embraces the desert it is in, Phoenix does not. The amount of natural recreation in Tucson and vicinity puts Phoenix to shame. Tucson has nicer weather. Tucsonans do not bend backwards to the every whim and wish of developers, Phoenicians do. Tucson is also more liberal and progressive than Phoenix is.

Granted, Tucson's median income is significantly lower than that of Phoenix's. You also don't mention that the cost of living is significantly lower in Tucson than it is in Phoenix ($727 vs. $585 for average rent). It is true that a higher percentage of people in Tucson work in unskilled industries. There are people, however, who are professionals who make very high salaries. Travel to the foothills and you will see that there are people doing quite well. Tucson does have small freeway system. Residents have shot down proposals time and time again because they do not want Tucson to copy Phoenix's development patterns.

I can see how Phoenix is more attractive for some: generally more to do, higher average salaries, newer architecture, rampant construction, extreme growth rate. However, for actual quality of life indicators, Tucson wins hands down.

[Cliff-man]

Originally Posted by markas214
"I guess liberal to some means anything goes. Maybe I should have used the term progressive. I just want to avoid ultra conservative, intolerant religious types."

Wow, you sound very intolerant.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by miamiman

Not true. Tucson has clean air, Phoenix does not. Tucson embraces the desert it is in, Phoenix does not. The amount of natural recreation in Tucson and vicinity puts Phoenix to shame. Tucson has nicer weather. Tucsonans do not bend backwards to the every whim and wish of developers, Phoenicians do. Tucson is also more liberal and progressive than Phoenix is.

Granted, Tucson's median income is significantly lower than that of Phoenix's. You also don't mention that the cost of living is significantly lower in Tucson than it is in Phoenix ($727 vs. $585 for average rent). It is true that a higher percentage of people in Tucson work in unskilled industries. There are people, however, who are professionals who make very high salaries. Travel to the foothills and you will see that there are people doing quite well. Tucson does have small freeway system. Residents have shot down proposals time and time again because they do not want Tucson to copy Phoenix's development patterns.

I can see how Phoenix is more attractive for some: generally more to do, higher average salaries, newer architecture, rampant construction, extreme growth rate. However, for actual quality of life indicators, Tucson wins hands down.

Your experiences with Tucson were obviously different than mine.

I am an auto alignment technician by trade and back in 2004 a Big O Tire there offered me $10 an hour, needless to say, I declined the job. Here in the Phx area I was typically paid $14 an hour (or better) doing the exact same work.

Too; several other people who lived in Tucson got tired of the BS wages and left.

Again: based on my personal experience I cannot recommend Tucson.